Check-book holder



Jan. 15, 1929. 1,698,828

H. A, SMITH CHECK BOOK HOLDl-ER 4 2 Shgets-Sheet' 1 Filed Sept. 19. 1927 Jan. 15, 1929. lssggs H. A. SMITH clmox BooK vHOLDER Filed septfls, 1927 2 sheets-sheet f2 Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED STATES HERBERT A. SMITH, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

CHECK-BOOK HOLDER.

Application filed September 19, 1927. Serial No. 220,340.

This invention relates to a cover or holder for a check book or similar article and particularly to such a check book or article adapted to be folded. As is well known, check books which are folded in the middle are now commonly used, such check books being adapted to be carried in the pocket of the user. `When these check books are thus folded and carried, they become sharply creased at the folded portion and it istroublesome to vstraightening the same out when 1t 1s desired to write a check, and in fact, is quite diicult to write the check on account of the crease or fold.

It is an objectof this invention to provide a cover or holder for a check book or similar article constructed and arranged so that the check book will not be sharply creased when folded and can thus be easily straightened to be written upon, said check book and holder preferably being so connected that the check book is movable relatively thereto.

It is another object of the invention to provide acover for a check book or similar article having means whereby the check book will not be unduly creased when folded and also having means engaging the check book when straightened out, to hold the same fiat against the cover. n

It is a further object of the inventlon to provide a cover for a check book or simllar article having a back portion, a book of checks pivotally connected at one end adjacent one end of the cover, said cover having an extension at said end with a Shaper connected to the vfree end thereof, said book having a cover connected to its other end.

Itis also an obj ect of the invention toprovide such a cover as set forth in the preceding paragraph, together with a clip secured adjacent the central portion of the cover adapted to engage with the book of checks to hold the same at againstv the cover.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompany drawings, in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the cover with the check book therein opened out flat in position for writing;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the check book turned to position for folding;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1 as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the cover and check book in folded condition;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a cover 10 for a check book or similar foldable article is shown, which comprises an intermediate portion or back 10a, an extension 10b connected to one end thereof and preferably-forming a continuation of said back, and a cover 10 connected to the other end thereof, which may also form an integral extension of said back. The back has secured thereto adjacent the central portion thereof a holding means 11, and while this means may be variously formed, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is shown as a clip having a spring bill or hook portion 11a adapted to hook over a book of checks or similar article, and resiliently hold the same. Said clip 11 is shown as having a body portion secured to the back by a pair of eyelets 12. The cover 10c is provided adjacent its edge and substantially centrally thereof with a fastener 13 illustrated as of the ball and socket type,

which fastener is adapted to co-operate with a complemental fastener 14 secured to the back 1()a adjacent one end thereof, and which projects at the outer side of said back. A lurality of checks or slips 15 are provi ed, shown as connectedat their end 15a to form a book. Such books of checks are now commonly prepared and distributed by most banks. The book of checks 15 is adapted to be held or secured in the cover 10 and for this purpose a member 16 is provided, which preferably will be made of leather or similar sheet material, which member has a pocket 16 formed there in, adapted to receive a tongue or tab 15b secured to the book 15 at one end, and to the under side thereof. The member 16 is movablyv connected to the back 10et and while this connection may be variously effected, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, it is shownv asl pivotally connected by the headed pivot 17, which pivot forms the shank and holding means of the'fastener 14. The member 16 can 'thus be rotated about the axis of member 17. The extension 10b has a flap 10d at one side secured at one sideand end as and checks then are in the position as shown in shown in Fig. 1, so as to be spaced from the body of the extension 10b and form a holder. This holder is adapted to receive a blotter 18 or other similar article. The extension at its other side is provided With a rectangular open ended pocket or casing 1()e which may receive a small passbook 19 or similar article. The extension 10b also has a stiffening sheet 1()t secured thereto and extending throughout substantially all of its area, the outer end of Which is permanently secured to a sha-per member 2O shown as substantially cylindrical in shape. While the member 2O may be variously formed, in the embodiment of the invention illust-rated it is shown as comprising a solid central member or core 20 Which may be made of Wood or similar material, having a diametral slot receiving the member 10f and a surrounding shell 20" Which may be made of metal, cellulose or other material having its edges inserted in the slot of member 2O at each side of member 10f.

lli-operation, when the checks are to be Written, the device will be opened to the position shown in Fig. 1. The book of checks 15 will be in straightened position and will have their edges slipped under the bill 11a of the clip 11. rllhe checks are thus held flat against the back 10a at the place Where the fold therein occurs, and Will be held nicely flattened and in convenient form to be Written upon.

When the book is to be closed up to be carried in the pocket, the back 15 and member 16 will be rotated 18()o about the axis of member 17 so that the same extend toward and over the extension 10b. lf desired, the book can be first folded along the line extending transversely thereof between members 17 and the end 15L J as shown in Fig. 2 and the book may, if desired, be slipped under the bill 11a. The extension 10b is then folded over onto the check book, the same being folded ove-r to the rightk from the position shown in Fig. 2. This brings the shaper member 20 over the back 15 somewhat to the left of the clip 11. The free end of the check book or the portion at the right of the shaper is then folded over on top of the extension. This brings the rear of the back portion and the fastener 14 adjacent the cover portion 10e. The cover portion as shown in Fig. 2 is then folded over to the left Von top of the back portion and the fastener 13 is snapped onto the fastener 14. rllhe cover Fig. 4. The Shaper 20 prevents the checks being pressed down to form a sharp crease. When the checks are unfolded, they can thus be easily straightened out in convenient posiytion to be Written upon.

It Will be seen that the book can also be folded Without being changed from the position shown in Fig. 1. Theextension 10b Would merely be folded over to the right to bring the shaper 20 on top of the checks and the extension and back then again folded to /top of the checks a short distance from the end of member 16 and tends to form a trough or depressed portion extending transversely of the checks at one end thereof.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a simple and very etlicient check holder and cover. The checks are folded and yet prevented from being sharply creased. The same can easily and quickly be straightened so as to be conven` iently Written upon. Means, namely the clip 11, is also provided for holding the checks fiat against the back and this means engages the checks at the point Where they arel folded about the shaper 2O and thus holds down flat any convex portion formed by being folded about t-he shaper. The extension forms a convenient holder for a blotter, passbook, or similar articles. The Whole device comprises a neat package conveniently adapted to be received in the pocketv of the user. The device has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found tov be very successful and efficient.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, Without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carryioo ing out the objects above set forth, in the at their free ends being adapted to be folded over on top of said extension and said outer cover being adapted to be folded over vonto they folded end of the checks, a shaper carried bythe free end of the extension, said shaper having curved convex surfaces over which the checks are folded to prevent creasing of the checks, and a clip lcarried by said back adjacent the central portion thereof, constructed and arranged to hold the checks closely against said back at the'portion Where they are folded over said shaper.

2. A check book cover having in combination, a back, an extension foldably connected to one end of said bac-k, checks secured to said back, said extension being adapted to be folded over on said checks, and the checks being adapted to be folded back on top of said extension, 'la shaper secured to the free end of said extension, said rsha'per having a curved head over which the checks are folded, and a clip carried by said back adjacent the center thereof, constructed and arranged to fit over said checks and hold the same closely adjacent said back.

3. A check book cover having in combination, a back, an extension foldably connected to one end of said back, checks secured to said back, said extension being adapted to be folded over on said checks, and the checks being adapted to be folded back on top of said extension, a shaper secured to the free end of said extension, having a conveXly curved end surface over which the checks are folded, and means for holding said checks closely against said back.

4;. A check book cover having in `combination, a back, a foldable extension at one end thereof, a cover at the ot-her end of said back, a plurality of checks in said back and movably attached thereto whereby said checks can be positioned with their free ends directed toward either end of said back, and a Shaper carried by the free end of said exten sion, said cover being adapted to be folded over on said back after said extension has been folded over on said checks.

5. A check book cover having in combination, a back, an extension foldably connected to one end thereof with an outer cover connected to the other end of said back, a book of checks carried on said back and pivotally connected thereto at one end thereof adjacent the end of said back to which said extension is secured, and a Shaper secured to the free end of said extension whereby said checks may be moved about said pivot to lie over said extension and said extension and checks can then be folded over on said back and said cover then folded on said back.

6. The structure set forthin claim 5 and a clip secured to said back having a portion adapted to extend over the top of said checks.

7 A check book cover having in combination, a back, an extension foldably secured to one end thereof, a cover foldably secured to the other end of said back, a member pivotally connected to said back adjacent one end thereof and adapted to hold a plurality of checks in position in said back whereby said checks and member may be swung about said pivot, a Shaper secured to the free end of said extension, said extension having a pocket formed therein at one side, and means on said back for holding said checks flat against the same.

8. A check book cover having in combination, a back, an extension foldably connected to one end thereof and an extension forming an outer cover connected to the other end of said back, a book of checks carried onsaid back and pivot-ally connected thereto to swing about an axis at right angles to the plane of said back, whereby said cover can be folded with the check book alined with said back and the face of the checks uppermost, or the book can be swung 180o about said pivot and folded over on said back with the checks face downward and said cover folded together with said first mentioned extension and back overlapped.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HERBERT A. SMITH. 

